“Twilight, are ya sure that we are goin’ the right way? That pony in the village didn’t seem real sure.” Applejack voiced to the purple Unicorn. The orange earth pony looked uncertain as they walked.
“I know they seemed a bit...unsure. But I'm certain that if we keep searching we will find this pony they say got pony napped.” The mare looked over her shoulder as she spoke.
The mares looked up as Rainbow Dash came back to them and pointed. “Well, I did find a camp of some ponies and griffins. I didn’t get to close so I didn’t see this black pony they mentioned.” The blue Pegasus with tri-colored cutie mark said to them as she hovered.
“You didn’t see anything?” Twilight asked her.
“Nope. But I had to stay pretty high up. They are out in the open, no trees or anything to hide behind. So how are we gonna get close to them?”
Twilight stopped and looked thoughtful. “Are they in a clearing?”
“No. A ravine.” The pale mare replied.
“A ravine?”
“Yup. The bottom of a steep cliff. Its really high on one side.”
The lavender mare paused. “Why in Equestria would they be at the bottom of a cliff?” She thought aloud.
“Perhaps when we reach them we can see the reason.” A white Unicorn mare with three diamonds for a cutie mark spoke up as she set a hoof on the others shoulder in support.
“Yeah. Can’t be a good reason though, if they are pony nappers.” A bright pink mare spoke up as she bounced up to them, 3 balloons on her rump. “Maybe they were wrestling with him and the ponies that saw it were confused?”
The others looked at her and Applejack slapped a hoof to her forehead at her friends words. They walked in silence and reached the lip of the cliff that Rainbow had mentioned. The mares gazed over the side and saw a small camp of ponies and a few griffins. Twilight’s horn lit up and pair of binoculars appeared in front of her. She brought them to her eyes and she scanned the area. She counted 10 Earth Ponies, 6 Griffins, and 1 Unicorn. She frowned as none of them appeared to be the right coloring for the stallion that was pony napped. She was about to put them down when she saw a pen with a pony laying inside it. She focused on it and gasped when she found the pony they were looking for. He was about Luna’s height and he was being held down by stakes in the ground with ropes over him, holding him on the ground. But that was not what caught her attention. There were spotlights around him. He was bathed in constant light and he wasn’t moving.
She sat back and Applejack took the binoculars and looked down. “What in the hay?” She handed them to the others and looked to Twilight. “Why are they holding him down like that?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe its a form of torture?” She said back to the orange mare, who cringed. “It’s warm out but not sure how that's meant to hurt him. Unless they aren’t giving him food or water.”
Fluttershy cringed and looked down to them. She yelped and began frantically pointing back to the trapped pony.
Twilight took the binoculars and looked back to find that one of the griffins hop the fence and advance on the pony. She pulled back as the griffin reached out and struck him with it’s fore-claws.
“We have to hurry and help him. Come on, girls.” She said and took off running along the cliff edge. “I really wish I had brought Spike. I could have asked for some help.”
“We can take ‘em.” Rainbow said to her from above.
“Thats not what I’m worried about Rainbow. Its that fact that they are starting to beat him that worries me. We have to hurry.” She explained.
The mares found a route that allowed them to go down the cliff side to the bottom of the ravine. They looked around the corner and found that the pony had been left alone once more by the time they reached the bottom. Twilight went over her initial count and found that nothing had changed., None of the tents held others and the ones that she had seen before were gathered around a dying fire to chat. She looked up and found that none of them seemed worried about being caught or even putting sentries out to watch out for others. She leaned back as an idea hit her.
“Girls, gather around.” Twilight said and began to explain her plan.
Applejack came around the bend and walked slowly up to the camp. A yell went out and several ponies came up to her. She stopped and waited for them to approach.
“Well, well. Looks like a little girl is lost.” One jeered at her.
The mare said nothing in reply. They surrounded her and she waited. “Ah’m not lost. Ah’m here for mah friend.” She informed them.
“Your friend?” A green stallion walked up to her. “And who is your friend?”
“Yer holding ‘im over yonder.” She said and pointed to the stallion.
They looked behind them, then back to her, and then they began to laugh. “I think your a bit confused, pretty thing. That one is no ponies friend.”
“Ah am not confused. Ah came ta get ‘im.” She said and raised her head to look at them. “Ah ain’t leavin’ without ‘im.”
“Well then you are welcome to join him. We could all use a bit of...female company.” He said to her. He advanced on her and reached out a hoof to grip her fur. “Pretty little thing like you made a mistake coming here all alone. After we get what we want from you, then maybe we will stake you out with your...friend.”
Applejack chuckled and pushed his hoof away from her. “What make ya think ah’m alone?” She said and a shrill whistle escaped her.
They looked up as a large dust cloud came around the bend on the path. Four more ponies appeared and the group realized that there were more hidden in the dust cloud. They pulled back as Applejack turned and sent the leader rolling with a powerful buck to the chest. He rolled back, gasping for air. The others turned as the orange mare kicked another of them and they fell back as magic began to be fired upon them from the purple unicorn in the group. The only Unicorn in their group charged forward and fired back at the mare who made a shield to protect them as they galloped. He fell back as the white Unicorn in the group began levitating items and throwing them. Rocks and other items from their camp were lobbed at them. Several ponies and griffins yelled as they were struck. They couldn’t see that the cloud of dust was being made by a Pegasus hidden in the cloud. Her ability to handle the dust was due to her own training as a weather mare.
Twilight reached the camp first and she met up with Applejack as the farmer punched another pony and set him rolling. “Ah gotta admit ah wasn’t sure bout this plan a yers.” She panted out as she kicked another. “But it seems ta be workin’ out.”
Twilight panted as she nodded, then went back to assaulting them with bursts of magic and helped drive them off. Once they were gone Rainbow let the dust cloud go and landed.
“That was sweet!” She yelled and punched the air. “Did you see their faces when we came around that corner?” She laughed heartily, a wide smile on her muzzle.
Rarity cringed as the dust settled on her coat. “Oh, how vile.”
“Yes Rainbow we did. Now come on. Pinkie stop bouncing around him.” Twilight walked up to the pen and pushed the door open. The vibrant pink mare jumped back and waited with her other friends. She looked at him and saw several deep gashes in his chest, face and girth. His horn was black until halfway up, which then changed to a brilliant blue, unlike her own there was no spiral to it. She cringed as she saw that the ropes were dug into his skin and blood leaked slowly from them. Her magenta aura pulled the stakes out of the ground and began freeing the motionless pony.
The last one was pulled from the ground and a whip of pure darkness lanced out and struck the lights, shattering them. Twilight yelped and crouched down as the shattered bulbs went out, casting the area in shadows from their stands. She looked out from behind her bangs as the stallion lunged to his hooves and shook. Deep cuts went over his body as black blood trickled over his fur. Twilight stood up and stared as his fur began to shift and a shadow like smoke began to come off of his fur. His eyes were a luminescent blue and stood out brightly against his dark fur. He backed up and stood in the deep shadows of the cliff face. Twilight waited for him to speak or do anything. As soon as he was covered in shadow, he stopped moving and stared back at her. The others walked up to stand with her and a loud snarl cut through the air. White fangs jutted from his mouth as his lips pulled back to reveal his teeth. Twilight and the others yelped as a pair of dragon like wings pulled from his back and extended.
Even Rainbow yelled and jumped back at the impressive sight. Once they were far enough back the wings lowered and the pony seemed to calm slightly. Twilight looked to her friends. “Okay, every pony just stay back a bit.” She looked back to him and waited for him to relax. The mares waited in silence as his snarl died out and his wings relaxed on his back, falling to their place at his sides.
‘Those weren’t there when he was laying there. When did they...?’ Twilight thought to herself and shook her head to clear it before she addressed him. “I’m sorry that we startled you. We received a notice from the nearby village that somepony had been pony napped and that he needed help.”
A startled sound came from the stallion and he tilted his head at her. “Some pony called you about my abduction?” His voice was quiet, but Twilight could sense the strength under it.
“Yes. When we got here the ponies of the village told us where to go, roughly. My friend Rainbow Dash.” She pointed to the blue mare, who gave a sheepish wave of her hoof in greeting. “Spotted this camp from the air and led us to it.”
The stallion gazed back at them, his gaze looking for signs of deception. “By the Shadows, their serious.” He muttered to himself. A shot of pain went through him and he groaned as he sank to the ground, landing on his left side. The purple mare gasped and started for him. He snarled and bared his teeth at her, stopping her in her tracks. She backed up and regarded him, worry in her gaze. He looked over himself and found that the wounds were slowly healing, but he still needed to give them time. He needed to divert the ponies till he had enough strength to leave them. At the moment he was vulnerable, and he was well aware of it. He glanced back to them and noticed that the pink mare was missing. He looked to the right and found her muzzle touching his own. His eyes widened as he stared at her. His body stiffened and he reached out with his own magic and vanished.
Pinkie looked around at his sudden disappearance. “Where did he go?”
Twilight looked around. “Pinkie! What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. He went Poof!” She laughed.
Twilight glowered at the mare.
“He’s over there, dear.” Rarity prodded her and pointed to one of the tents.
Twilight looked over and saw him standing inside the tent. She loped over to him, but slowed when she heard a low wheezing. She stopped as she realized that she was hearing his breathing. He collapsed back to his side and panted, his tongue out of his mouth as he pulled in air. The unicorn waited as he recovered and the others sat down just behind her.
“Are you all right?” Her voice was quiet as she looked at him.
He panted and his eyes looked to her. “Stay away from me.” He snarled.
Twilight glared over her shoulder at Pinkie, who looked away, whistling. “I am so sorry about that. But are you okay? Do you need some water?”
The black stallion shifted and pulled his legs under him, trying to make himself more comfortable. He had used what little strength and power he had when that mare had startled him. No pony had touched him since before he could recall. He panted as he let his head fall to the floor as he rested. The purple mare waited for his reply. He raised his head and looked to her with a sigh. “I would appreciate some water.”
Twilight gave a smile and her magic reached for the canteen behind him and she filled a cup with a glass of water for him. Her magic held it in front of him and she gaped as shadows reached out and held the cup as he drank from it. He set the cup down and lowered his head back down to the rug in the tent.
“Whats your name?” Twilight asked.
He glanced at her and considered for a moment before answering. “I don’t have one.”
The mares gaped as he spoke. “You don’t have a name?” Pinkie shrilled. “Or do you want us to guess?” She bounced on her hooves. “Smokey? Blacky? Oh, what about...” Applejack stuffed a hoof in the pink mares mouth.
“Thank you.” He said to the orange mare. “None of those are my name. I was not joking when I said I do not have one. I have never been given a name.”
“Yer parents didn’t name ya?” Applejack asked as she let go of Pinkie’s mouth.
“No. I do not have...” He stopped as he was about to babble details that they did not need to know about him.
The mares seemed to be waiting for him to say more when instead he remained silent. “Are yer parents gone?” The orange mare asked him.
“No.” He responded.
Twilight set the canteen down and waited. “Off topic. May I ask what kind of pony you are?”
His head lifted suddenly, startling the mare. ‘They came to get me and have no idea what I am? That makes no sense.’
“You came to free me, but have no idea what you came to rescue?” He asked them.
“We were told that a pony was being pony napped so we came to help.” Twilight said to him.
He stared at them and a smile tugged at his mouth. A quiet chuckle escaped him which slowly grew into a laugh. He held his face in his forelegs as he laughed. “By the Shades, you have no idea.” He said through his laughter.
“Umm...No.” Fluttershy said to him from her place behind Twilight.
He looked up as his laughter died out. “Well, I’m glad we could entertain you. But how about you answer the question?” Rainbow chided him.
He shook his head. “Well, I will inform you what I am as thanks for the laugh. Its been a while since I had a good laugh. My breed is a Shadow Walker. We have many names but that is the one I hear most often.”
Twilight’s eyes widened and she sat down heavily. “A Shadow Walker?” He nodded.
“Ya know what that means, Twi?” Applejack asked.
“They are so rare that they are kinda like a myth.” She replied and looked over her shoulder to the others. “I never thought I’d ever meet one...you...Sorry.”
He chuckled. “Its fine.”
“But nothing I have ever read or heard said you were an Alicorn.” She said to him as she faced him once more.
He shrugged. He left out a critical detail in his explanation, deliberately. The last thing he needed was them changing from friendly to predatory.
“How many of you are there?” Twilight asked.
“More than ponies think.” He replied.
She stopped and considered him for a moment. “Are they all able to be captured?” He started and a growl started. “Oh sorry that came out wrong!” Twilight yelled and covered her face with her hooves. “I meant could others have been captured?”
He calmed and relaxed. “No. Not that I am aware of.”
She relaxed at his easy tone and put her hooves down. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean it the other way.”
“I understand that. You already apologized and I accept that.”
“So why don’t ya have a name?” Applejack persisted.
He sighed. “As I stated before. I was never given one.”
“A Shadow Walker isn’t born, right?” Twilight supplied.
“Correct. We are not born of ponies. We are created.”
The mares all tilted their heads at his statement. He sighed and prepared to explain. “We are created by the Shadows. Which means that we do not have a parent to name us. We are what we are and nothing more. It is our breed, title, and name.”
“So we could call ya Shadow Walker?” Applejack said to him.
“I would rather you didn’t. Not all ponies are as...friendly as you are. You saw her reaction upon hearing what I am.” He pointed out as he indicated Twilight.
“I don’t know a lot.” She admitted. “But you have already disproved a few facts.” He waited for her to explain. “For example. A Shadow Walker kills ponies.”
He blinked several times, a grin pulled at him and then he erupted into laughter once more. He laughed as Twilight blushed and hid behind her hooves once more. “That's a myth.” He replied through bouts of laughter.
Twilight looked to him as they waited for him to calm. He breathed and righted himself, due to rolling onto his left side. “Oh, that's a good one.” He inhaled and then exhaled as he pulled his hooves under him once more. “What else have I proven wrong?”
Twilight looked at him. “That Walkers always bring pain and suffering.”
“Hah!” He barked a laugh, but composed himself. “Thats a half truth.”
“How so?” Fluttershy asked.
“We do show up when there is pain and suffering, thats true. We are drawn to it. But we do not cause it.” He paused as he considered something. “Well...Not deliberately.” He added as an afterthought.
“Deliberately?” Rainbow tossed in, drawing his attention.
“We do show up. But it’s not to cause suffering. To be more clear I have a question first.” He said, interrupting his explanation. “What do your books say feeds a Shadow Walker?”
“You mean what do you eat?” Twilight asked and he nodded in response. “Ummm...well...”
He paused as a grin crossed his muzzle. “Don’t tell me...The flesh of ponies? Maybe foals and virgins?” Twilight flushed. He snorted a laugh. “Well. Thats a fun one, isn’t it?” He shook his head. “No, we feed on the shadows that birthed us and on the pain and suffering of those around us.”
The mares gaped at him. “You feed on pain?”
“To be specific we feed on the feelings behind the emotion itself. Think of how it feels when pain is caused. That is what we feed on. The stronger the emotion the better, the best are emotions that are linked to suffering. Despair being one of them. It feeds us and gives up increased power and strength. It can also regenerate our bodies should something happen.”
“So yer healing while sitting in the dark?” Applejack pointed out.
“Yes.” He turned his head and they could see the healing wounds on the side of his neck. The shallow cuts were almost fully healed. “Our power draws from the Shadows and the Darkness.”
Fluttershy walked up and halted by Twilight. “So your wounds will heal on their own?”
“Yes. Given some time. That is why they kept the lights on me. It interfered with my healing ability.” She supplied.
Twilight grimaced. “Thats cruel. Why were they hurting you?”
He paused. “They wanted information about my kind. I refused to give it.”
“So they were torturing you?” Rarity asked, her voice held concern.
“Essentially, yes. Though their methods were pretty sub par I have to admit. I have survived far worse.” He scoffed at the memory.
“You have been captured before?”
“Yes. Though it was a very long time ago.” He replied. “Anyway to finish your question from a moment ago. We show up when there is pain and suffering and in doing so if we are seen we tend to cause a bit of a panic. So it can make things worse. Its a side effect of being made of Shadows and what not.” Pinkie suddenly jumped at him. Rainbow grabbed a chunk of her tail and hauled her back. “Thank you. I don’t have the energy to Shift again. So I would appreciate it if you would refrain from touching me.”
Pinkie frowned and sank to the ground. Twilight regarded her for a moment before she looked back to him. “Shift?”
“Its what you might call a teleport. I have magic but I rarely use it unless its needed. I Shift into the Shadows and appear elsewhere. Normally I can use it for long distance. But I don’t have the energy at this time.” He explained.
“So your magic is used as a last resort?” Twilight asked.
“Basically yes. Its an inherent skill to every one of my kind. Not all are as proficient as others. It depends on several factors.” He explained further.
“You mentioned that not all are Alicorns.” He nodded. “How many are Alicorns?”
‘Shit.’ He thought to himself as he appeared thoughtful. “I don’t have an exact number. I rarely see any of my own kind.”
“Why not?” Pinkie asked. “Are you all fighting? Not time for a reunion? Or is it...” A whip of darkness surrounded the talkative mares mouth and clamped it shut.
“How do you put up with that?” He asked Twilight, who giggled. Shadows covered his horn as it controlled the long strand of darkness. “My kind are territorial. We don’t tolerate each other well. Since we are not born we have no need of a mate so we avoid each other at all costs. Most have a set territory, so it’s easy to avoid.”
“Wow. So ya never seen yer own?”
“Oh. I see them every now and then. But I wander. I don’t have a territory.” He supplied.
“Why not?” Pinkie asked, once he released her mouth.
“Its not my thing. I prefer to move around as I see fit.”
“Are you the one that protects them then?” Twilight asked.
His head snapped to her and stared at the mare. “I suppose that is known as well then?”
“Not really. Its only in a hoof full of books but I remember it.” She relied.
He sighed. “One of my kind must have been talkative then.” He growled and shook his head. “Yes. That is what I do. I suppose informing you of this is fine then. There is only ever one Shadow Alicorn. He is the one that protects the others and keeps our secrets.” He advised, having given up on keeping that to himself.
“So you are a protector then?” Rainbow asked, he nodded in reply. “Thats so awesome.”
He raised an eyebrow at her then gaze a short chuckle. “I suppose it could be that way to some.”
Applejack scooted up to sit with the others and held out a hoof. He looked at her. “Ah figure we out to introduce ourselves. Ya may not have a name but that don’t mean Ah should be unfriendly. Ah’m Applejack.”
He looked at the offered hoof and then back to the mare. “You weren’t being unfriendly to begin with.” He said to her, but gripped her hoof with his own and shook it.
“I’m Rainbow Dash.” The blue mare was next.
“Pinkie Pie.”
“Fluttershy.”
“Rarity.”
“Twilight Sparkle. Just Twilight is fine.”
“Pleasure is mine.” He said to them after finishing shaking their hooves.
“We need to think of a name for you.” Pinkie said and her mouth closed when a growl from him silenced her.
“Its fine. I have never had a name so it is not required.” He advised them.
Twilight sat closest to him. “Well how about we just call you something easy?”
“Such as?”
“Well you are a protector...so...Guard?...No, that sounds ridiculous.” She looked away as she thought it over.
“What about Guardian?” Fluttershy said to them.
The others spun to look at her. “Thats a good one, Flutters.” Rainbow said, genuine praise for the shy Pegasus.
Even the black Alicorn nodded. “Well then we can call ya Guardian then?” Applejack said to them.
“Its kind of a mouthful, though.” Rainbow criticized. “But it could work.”
“Well lets think a something ta go with it?” Applejack added.
“Onyx.” Rarity said. “Onyx Guardian.” The mares and stallion looked to her once she finished her declaration. “He has no other coloring aside from that lovely black with blue eyes and he is a guardian.”
“That's perfect Rarity.” Twilight said to her friend, a wide smile on her muzzle. “Will that be okay?” She asked him.
He regarded them as he thought over the name he had just been given. “It certainly fits, I suppose. It will be fine. But I have to ask, why bother naming me?”
Twilight smiled. “Well, if we are going to ask you to come with us while you recover then you need to have a name.”
He started. “Come with you?”
“Ponies are after you for some reason, right?” She reasoned. “Then we need to find out why and help you to not be hurt.”
‘I am well aware of the reason.’ He reasoned to himself. “I can understand that, but that does not mean I need to be supervised. Besides I will recover in a few hours.”
“I don’t mean your wounds. I mean your magic and the Shadows you use.”
He looked back to his body and the shadows that came off his body were weak at best. “Damn.” He looked to the mares and found warm smiles being sent his direction.
“Can you change your appearance?” Twilight asked him.
“How do you...Oh, I see.” He answered as her meaning caught on. He closed his eyes as his horn was covered in darkness, which then crawled over his body. His wings were absorbed into his back and his horn shortened to appear more normal, his mane and tail turned the same blue as his eyes and he became a bit shorter in height. He opened his eyes which were still the vibrant blue and he climbed to his hooves. “Is this what you meant?”
Twilight stared at the transformed Shadow Walker and nodded. “Yeah, thats perfect. I had no idea you could change your form like that?”
“There are a lot of things that are unknown about my kind.” He said to her as he looked himself over. “I haven’t used this form in a while, so it might take a moment to get used to.”
“All righ’. Ya ready ta head for Ponyville, Onyx?” Applejack asked him.
He looked to her and considered for a moment. “I suppose I am, though how do we plan on getting there? From what I recall that town is a considerable distance.”
“We have our rides waiting in the village. Once we get back there we will get a ride home.” Twilight answered him.
He didn’t move for a moment as the mares walked out of the tent. Twilight stopped when she realized he was not with them. She opened her mouth to call out to him as his horn was covered in darkness once more. She looked around as the shadows around them began to shift and churn. They streaked across the ground to the black unicorn and he absorbed them as they reached him. They watched as he finally walked out to join them. He walked up to them and paused as they stared.
“I wasn’t fully healed. So I absorbed the shadows around us to help with that.” He explained.
“Are you all right now, dear?” Rarity asked him.
“No. I’m still not healed but I suppose to keep with the story of being pony napped that is a good thing.” he replied to her.
“But yer still injured.” Applejack said as she looked him over.
Several cuts still slowed on his fur and patches that the ropes had chafed were still raw. “I am, but its nothing that will slow me down.”
Twilight gave a grim nod and the mares led him back to the village. Onyx walked with them as he got used to the smaller form he was in. Rainbow bumped him at one point and he stumbled. He snapped at her and snarled, his ears pinned.
The pale mare stared at him in surprise. “What?”
“I asked that you not touch me. Please refrain if you will.” He replied as he started walking ahead of them.
“He did mention that, darling.” Rarity said as she trotted to catch up to the stallion.
“Touchy.” Rainbow muttered.
The mares trotted up to him, though they made sure to give him space. The village showed up on the horizon and Twilight broke into a smile. “There it is. Don’t worry, soon you will be able to sit down and rest, Onyx.” He nodded his thanks, but stayed silent. “Oh and we will stay close to stop them from mobbing you.”
“Mobbing?”
“Yep they said ya were pony napped so they wanna see ya.” Applejack explained.
The black pony looked to the village, with what could be called an expression of dread. “Fabulous.”
“No worry sugar cube. We’ll stay with ya.” The orange mare said to him. She reached out her hoof to him to pat his shoulder when she paused, then pulled back. “Ah almost fergot. Sorry sugar.”
“Its fine. I’ll try to get used to it in time. But for now I appreciate the effort.” He said to her, trying to set her at ease.
“Your nice to her, but you growl at me.” Rainbow griped.
Onyx turned to the pouting mare. “You nearly knocked me off my hooves. I think that earned you a larger reprimand.”
Twilight and the others giggled as they entered the town. The mares surrounded him as ponies looked up to them. He lowered his head to try to stay put of fight as long as possible.
“Miss Twilight?” A Pegasus guard approached them and gave a polite bow to the mares. “Did you find any...pony?” The golden clad pony looked at the black pony in the center of them. “He the one that was abducted?”
“Yes. This is Onyx Guardian. We drove off the abductors and helped him escape. Now I plan on taking him to Ponyville to recover.” Twilight informed him.
“Good to hear that you were able to rescue him. Princess Celestia was right to ask you for help.” He said to them.
“Incoming, Onyx.” Rainbow said to him.
He looked up as several ponies saw him and approached. A young filly raced up to them. “You found him...Thats not him.” She had a light pink coat with small wings on her back. Her bright teal eyes shone at them.
“What do you mean, dear? Thats the pony that they rescued.” A mare with similar coloring approached as well.
“The pony I saw was taller and had smoke coming off him.” She explained.
‘Shit she saw more of me than I thought.’ Onyx berated himself for not sensing her when he felt Fluttershy push against him. He turned to her to find her trying to push back against several ponies who wanted to check on him. He bit back an angry snarl at the pleading look on the shy mares face. He moved away from her to try to help but she stumbled he tried to get under her to hold her up but missed and landed on her. The mare yelped at his sudden weight and he tried to push off of her. He looked up as several ponies touched his fur and he snarled as his horn flared and he Shifted to a patch of shadows, off to the side. Pain pulled at him from the use of his Shadow abilities. The form he had taken was not designed for their use, so it caused strain on his form. Twilight yelped as she suddenly found him gone. She looked around and saw him off to the side. She teleported to him and stopped in front of him.
“Onyx, are you...Eep!” She yowled as he lunged under her belly.
“Thank the Shadows.” He muttered.
Twilight looked down to scold him until she saw her shadow undulating as he absorbed strength from it. “Oh.” She looked down to him as his eyes widened.
“Shit.” He said as he looked past her to the crowd that had found where he was hiding
She looked to him, she reached out and gripped his fur, her horn flared and she teleported both of them to the carriage that the guards had pulled. She spun and sat down in front of him, trying to hide him as much as she could. Fluttershy got out from under the ponies and flew to Twilight, half to help hide him and then to hide herself as well. The others got away from the crowd and ran to the guards and into their chariots.
“Please head for Ponyville.” Twilight urged them.
They lifted off and the Pegasus headed back the way they had arrived. Twilight looked back to Onyx, who had his hooves over his eyes and groaned.
“Onyx?” She asked.
“Yes?” He croaked to her.
“Are you all right?”
“I’ll be fine. Simply have never been teleported before. It was a bit of a shock.” He admitted as he looked up from behind his forelegs.
“Are you in the shadows enough? I can move...” Twilight asked him.
“I’m fine. I apologize for jumping underneath you. I was a bit desperate.” He apologized to the purple mare.
“Its okay. I was a bit surprised, but I understood it when I looked at you.”
“I appreciate the understanding. Using my abilities outside of my true form is taxing.”
“Are you in pain?” Fluttershy asked as she looked back to him.
“Nothing that I can’t bear with for a bit. As I said it is a bit taxing in this form, but it will fade in time. The longer I am in the shadows the better.” He said to the pair.
Fluttershy extended her wings and held them over his back, making sure not to touch him. He glanced over to her and gave a thin smile. The other mares had climbed into the other chariot and waited.
“He okay, Twi?” Applejack hollered.
“He says he’ll be okay.” Twilight yelled back.
“Tell ‘im ta rest up on the way back.”
Onyx sat up, moved Fluttershy’s wings away for a moment, and glared over to them. “I can hear you just fine.” He barked at them.
The others all looked away, sheepish at the stallions glare. Onyx went back to hiding behind Twilight and waited as Fluttershy put her wings back over him. He sighed as he let the light shadows from the two mares go over his body. He let his eyes close as he pulled the shadows to him, after several minutes he allowed himself to doze off.
Author's Note
So this has been a concept that i have had in mind for a few years. Onyx is a different type of OC then my others. He is far older than the main 6 but he still has humor and is not above having a bit of fun at another expense. He is opinionated and strong willed, bordering on pure stubbornness. He does leave them to watch over his own kind but normally he is not far from the main 6 and Spike. He is an Alicorn, but his power is limited to the shadows he commands and his own strength.
“Onyx.”
A voice caught his ears and they flicked to listen.
“Onyx.”
His eyes snapped open and he looked up as Twilight spoke to him. “Yes?” He was still getting used to the name they had given him.
“We’re here.” She said to him. “I didn’t want to move till you were awake. Since it would mean the sun hitting you in the face.”
He chuckled. “Thank you for that.”
The mare jumped to the ground and regarded him as the black unicorn sat up and yawned. His tongue ran over his sharp teeth and he yelped as Twilight gripped his jaws and slammed them together. He growled at her as she smiled at him.
“Sorry. Your teeth are sharp.” She explained through pursed lips. He paused and his head tilted slightly. “Not normal pony teeth.”
His eyes widened as he understood. He gave a slight nod and clamped his jaws. The mare released her hold as he put his tongue to the inside of his lower lip. His tooth had sliced it when she clamped his mouth shut. She looked apologetic as he shrugged. He jumped off the chariot and stood in the shadows of a large tree as he waited for the mares to finish speaking. Onyx was patience as he waited. An impact to his flank sent him staggering forward with a yelp. He spun around and was about to lash out when a small lizard showed up.
“Oh wow. Sorry. I didn’t know you were in front of the door.” The purple and green lizard remarked, scratching his head.
Onyx stared at him, then looked to Twilight who giggled. He stood up and reached a hoof back to rub his smarting flank.
“Onyx that is Spike. He’s my assistant.” She said to him.
“Nice to meet you, Spike.” Onyx said to him. “I’m Onyx Guardian.”
“Cool name.” Spike said to him. “I’m a dragon.”
Onyx stared for a moment at the admission of being in the presence of a dragon. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but are you full grown?”
Twilight barked a laugh. Spike looked over to her and glared before he looked back to the stallion. “I’m a baby dragon.”
“I see. My apologies then.” Onyx said to him and watched as the chariots left.
“Okay this is the library that I share with Spike.” Twilight explained. “There is a couple of extra bedrooms so you can pick one out.”
“Are you certain you want me to stay here?” Onyx asked her.
“Positive. You need to rest and recover from being pony napped.”
“You were pony napped?” Spike shrilled.
“I was, yes.” He glanced over to Twilight and gave her a look.
Spike trotted into the building. “Kindly hold what I am to yourself. My kind are unknown for a reason.” He explained to Twilight.
“Got it. Is it okay if I ask questions about your kind?” She asked him, her voice low.
“So long as I am allowed my secrets, yes. I am allowed to not answer?” He replied.
“Of course.” She said. She appeared affronted at the implication that he had no choice.
“Thank you for that.” He said to her.
The stallion followed her inside and looked around as he saw the shelves of books around him.
“Onyx.” Twilight waited till he looked to her. “Follow me. I’ll show you around.”
“Kitchen is in here. I’m guessing you don’t really cook?”
“Not really no. I wander so much that I just forage.” He replied.
“Okay, let Spike and I take care of that.” She said.
“Probably a good idea, then.” He said to them.
She walked ahead of him and told him the other areas of the house. “I and Spike sleep in here. If you need anything feel free to knock on the door.”
He nodded and she showed him the larger of the two extra rooms. He agreed to simply take that one and make things easier. The room had a small window which was perfect for the Shadow Walker that thrived in darkness. He walked around the room and after making sure he knew the layout of the room, then left it and closed the door behind him. He walked out in to the front of the library. An item thudded down onto his back and he growled as he ran forward several steps and looked up as he spun around. Spike was standing on a ladder and looking to the black pony.
“Sorry.”
He looked down at the book that had hit him in the back. “Your making a habit out of attacking me.” Onyx said to the green and purple dragon, who looked horrified at the implication.
“I would never attack you. The door was an accident...the book was an even bigger accident...Not helping is it?”
Onyx gave a bark of laughter and shook his head. His horn was covered by shadows as he used the darkness to start to pick up the offending book. Twilight yelped and he dropped the book as she came in and pulled his mane off to the side.
“Ow…Ow...Ow.” He complained as the mare yanked him into the kitchen.
“You need to change the color of your aura.” She said to him.
“Why?”
“Ponies aura usually matches their eyes. Your aura is made up of shadows and darkness. If any pony who knows more than me sees that...” She left it opened ended for him too draw his own conclusion.
He sighed. “Well, shit. Hang on.” He closed his eyes and focused his magic once more. The Shadow Alicorn pulled his magic inward and then let it ease back into it’s normal level. He inhaled and then released the breath after holding it for a moment. “There.”
He lit his horn and the aura was the same cyan blue as his eyes and mane. He opened his eyes as he finished breathing and Twilight nodded.
“Well done. You need to teach me some of those spells.”
“I can try, but much of what I know is Shadow and Darkness. So I'm not certain if it will work.” He admitted.
The mare smiled and walked back into the room. “Beware of falling literature.” He advised.
Twilight stopped and a giggle escaped her as Spike came down off the ladder. “Hey, it was an accident!” He yelled to the stallion.
“Maybe. Or an attempted assault that half failed.” He said as he came into the room.
Spike growled as Onyx came to stand in front of him with the purple mare.
He looked to the books and then looked to Twilight, who looked away from his glare. They were about myths and legends and a couple spoke of Shadow Walkers. “Really?”
She looked at the books and picked them up in her aura then sat them on the table in the center of the room. “Nothing like a bit of light reading.” She said and sat down, trying to ignore the look from the stallion. Spike patted his leg, getting his attention.
“She’ll crawl out from under all of those in a couple of days. In the meantime, you and I can hang out. We can do guy stuff.”
“Guy stuff?” Onyx asked.
“Yeah we can go get snacks and play ball and...” Spike went on but the stallion was looking to the purple mare.
Twilight looked at him and shrugged. Onyx glared at her as Spike tapped him again and motioned for him to follow. “Spike.” Twilight said, earning the dragons attention. “Why don’t you show him around Ponyville? He’s never been here.”
“Oh, that's perfect. Can we have dinner at Sugar Cube corner?” Spike asked the mare.
She sighed and her horn pulled several bits out of her saddle bags. “Have fun, guys.” She said, her voice sign song as the stallion turned to snarl at her, as the dragon pushed his rear legs, forcing him to walk out the door.
Spike walked ahead of him as Onyx cringed at the sunlight, but kept up with him. Spike told him the names of buildings and then led him deeper into town.
“That's Rarity’s shop,Carousel Boutique. Have you met her?” Spike asked.
“Yes. She was there when Twilight and the others found me.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot.” Spike looked around before leaning into Onyx’s shoulder. “Isn’t she most beautiful mare in all Equestria?”
Onyx shook his head and sighed. “She has her own appeal, but she isn’t my type. So, no worries about me pursuing her.”
Spike looked astonished for a moment. “But she’s perfect.”
Onyx groaned. “As I said, she has her own appeal. But not my type.”
Spike still looked stunned. Onyx growled and that seemed to snap him out of it. “Anyway. Let’s head this way.” He started back down the road and Onyx followed behind him. He hadn’t used this form in a while so it was still taking some getting used to. Last time he had used this form was around a hundred years ago. He had used it to walk through a town that was being ravaged by a sickness of some kind. He had walked through it so absorb the pain and suffering of the ponies within it. That energy had lasted him months.
Spike trotted ahead of him and motioned for him to follow. The black pony broke into a trot and caught up with him as they walked into a small building.
“Okay here we go. Dinner time!” Spike said to him as they walked inside.
A blue mare stepped out at the dragons call and smiled at him. “Well hello Spike.” She greeted him warmly.
“Afternoon Mrs. Cake.” He called out to her as he sat down in a booth. Onyx followed suit.
“And who is this?” She asked as she neared them.
“This is Onyx Guardian. Twilight and the others brought him here today. He was pony napped and they brought him here to recover from it.” Spike explained.
“Oh my.” She looked to the black pony. She scanned him and saw the healing wounds on his body. “Are you all right?”
“I’ll be fine.” He said to her. “Nice to meet you.”
“Well, as long as you are all right.” She appeared unconvinced but let it go. “Well what can I get you?”
“Onyx has never been here, so a menu to start with.” He said to the mare.
She smiled and set a menu on the table for them and left them to scan it. Onyx looked at the names of items and honestly had no idea what any of them were. He had never needed to eat pony food so he had never looked at it. Spike glanced to him and waited. Onyx sat back in his seat and looked at the baby dragon beside him.
“Any recommendation?” He asked him.
“They make a really good gemstone cupcake.” He replied.
Onyx stared at him for a moment. “Judging from the name gemstone I assume it is tailored more toward a dragons tastes?”
“Yup. It’s a really…oh. Umm, hang on.” Spike realized where Onyx was going with the question and looked back at the menu.
Onyx waited as the dragon looked over the menu again. He muttered to himself a few times and then looked over to the black stallion.
“Twilight usually gets a daisy sandwich on a croissant and a coffee.”
“A daisy sandwich?” Onyx stared at him as the dragon nodded. “Okay…Is there anything without…plants?” He asked. He had never eaten it before and was not sure how his body would take to the unknown food.
Spike looked uncertain as the mare approached the table again. “Anything jump out at you?”
“I will take my usual gemstones and Onyx is not certain what to get.”
Mrs. Cake looked to the newcomer and angled her body to stand closed to him and look over the menu with him. “What do you like dear?”
“That’s the thing. I haven’t eaten many of these things before.” He explained. “So to avoid any problems what is the chance of just something a bit…bland?”
“How bland?” She asked him.
“Borderline inedible due to boring.” He replied to her.
“Well. I can make up a regular sandwich for you. Do you have any preference to toppings?”
“No. I’m not a great fan of plants.” He admitted.
She chuckled and nodded. “I have just the thing. Be back in a few.” She said, removed the menu and trotted for the back rooms.
“What do you eat normally?” Spike asked him.
“Nothing with plants.” He replied.
Spike shook his head and sat in silence for a few minutes. “So, why did those ponies pony nap you?”
“They wanted some information that I refused to give them.” He replied.
“What information?”
“Not for you to know either.” Onyx replied to the baby dragon.
Spike grimaced but nodded. “So, Twilight and the others saved you?”
“They drove the others off and undid the bindings on me. So yes, they helped.”
“That’s crazy! Why would they pony nap somepony for a bit of info?” Spike asked, his voice pitched slightly.
“Someone will always want what others have. Usually they desire it to benefit themselves. Either to advance their position or for their own greed.” Onyx explained. “For this group they wanted the money that might come from what I know.”
“That’s stupid.” Spike said and huffed. “That’s just stupid. I mean, if they were meant to know then you would have told them. Otherwise, it’s not their business.”
Onyx chuckled. “I agree.”
The pair looked up as Mrs. Cake came back to their table, a tray on her back. She set down a plate of cupcakes in front of Spike and then a second plate of sandwiches for Onyx. The black stallion glanced at the plate then to her. She smiled and pointed to the plate. “Simple jelly sandwich. No plants or anything.”
Onyx nodded his thanks to her and watched as his magic picked it up and he took a small bite of it. The jelly tasted sweet, but not overpowering. He nodded to her and ate his food in silence. She walked away from them and Onyx looked to the dragon at his side as he seemed to be inhaling the food he had in front of him. When they had finished Spike walked to the front counter with the black pony and paid for their food.
“And back to the library.” Spike said cheerfully.
“Lead on.” Onyx said to him and followed the purple dragon out of the shop. As they walked Onyx looked around him at the surroundings. The town was quiet and seemed to have folded into silence when it became dark out. Onyx was quiet as they moved toward the tree library. He suddenly stopped as a feeling of alarm coursed through him. His skin trembled and he angled his body to look through an alleyway.
“Onyx?” Spike called back to him, having stopped when he realized the other wasn’t with him.
The black stallion was quiet as he watched the shadows and darkness by the building. He paused and looked back to the dragon. “I will meet you there. Let Twilight know that I will join you in a bit.” He said to the dragon and broke into a trot in the direction of the feeling.
“But… Oh rats.” Spike groaned and ran for the Library.
Onyx reached the end of the alley and focused his own magic. A shadow tore out from under him and then raced out, splitting into two at the end of the alley. The Shadow Walker was silent as his shadows raced through the area. Ready to alert him to anything in the area. The Alicorn was quiet as he waited. One shadow sent out an alarm and he broke into a lope to follow it, recalling the other shadow to him. As he came around the corner and ran down the street, following the other shadows alert he slowed at the sight of another Walker in the town. He stopped short and recalled the remaining shadow.
The other Shadow Walker did nothing as he watched it. The others form was silent as they stood still. Onyx finally took a few steps toward the other, his form shuddered to reveal the Shadow Alicorn that was his true form. The other finally moved and looked at him, its eyes sunken in.
“You’re here?” It whispered to him.
“Yes. I arrived earlier in the day.” He replied as he drew up a foot or so away from the other.
“Why?” It asked of him. Its voice was weak and barely a whisper.
“I was brought here by a group of ponies. They came to my aid when I was captured. They brought me here to allow me to recover and try to find out why I had been captured.”
“Do they know about us?”
“They know base information. Though only one of them recognized what we are.” He replied.
“So they captured you now?”
“No. I am here of my own choice.” Onyx supplied. “But that does not explain why you are here. If I recognize you like I think I do, then you are miles away from your known territory.”
The other looked to him and sighed. “I lost my territory.” It sighed and was quiet once more.
“To one of our own kind?” He asked.
“No. It was a pony. One of the Light.”
“Any defining features?”
“It was another Alicorn.”
Onyx paused. He knew that he was the only Alicorn of Shadow. “There are only three other Alicorn’s known, but they are not of our kind. They are the Princesses of Equestria. We have never argued with them.”
“It was the white one.”
“Celestia?”
“The one who commands the sun.”
“That’s her. That is beyond odd.” Onyx waited as the other seemed to be weakening with time. “What happened?”
“She came to the forest I was in, with her guards. They began to brighten the darkness of the forest and were able to corner me. She used the sun, or something like it, to drive me away.”
“Any reason?”
“She said that our kind have no place in their kingdom.” He replied.
Onyx walked up to the other Walker and realized that he had been burned by the lights they used. As he looked over the Walker, it was clear that he was dying. His body had been destroyed by the light used. “That’s not a comforting thought.” He admitted and looked to the other.
“I want to die, now.” He croaked out and looked to the Alicorn.
Onyx nodded. “I know. Thank you for alerting me to this.” He said and turned to face the dying Shadow. Shadows began to flow off of the Alicorn’s horn and covered the dying Walker. Onyx used the shadows and darkness to smother the dying Shade and allow him to fade to nothing. His form vanished and Onyx absorbed what remained of his life force. Onyx waited till nothing remained and turned to head back for the Library. He paused and looked in the direction of Canterlot.
“This could be a problem.” He began to walk forward and paused at the sound of hoof beats. He altered his form once more and walked forward. Twilight came around the corner and sighed when she saw him, slowing to a trot.
“Are you okay?” She asked him as she trotted to him.
“I’m fine. Just checking on something.” He replied to her and began to walk beside her.
Twilight started forward with the other on her heels. “So, how was dinner?”
He shook his head. “I am not even sure what I ate. I was told it was a sandwich. But since I have never eaten pony food it was a new experience.”
“You’ve never eaten normal food?”
“Normal for me is a walk through a dark alley or a short walk past a hospital.” He replied to her.
Twilight blinked at his reply but then chuckled. “So when you go by a hospital do you just absorb the pain there or can you focus it?”
“I can focus if I need to. There was a time when my kind was called upon to help ponies.” He replied to her, at her wide eyes he continued. “We were asked to stand close to ponies that were in pain. Whether it was from illness or even during the birth of a foal. Our presence eased their suffering due to our body’s absorbing it. If focused we can remove pain from a pony. Whether it’s just to ease the pain for a time or to ease their passing.”
“Wow. That is never written in any of my books.”
“Of course. Not if you want ponies to fear something you make it out to be evil and cruel.” He responded. “I have defended many of my kind from cruelty in my life and I have seen the worst in ponies. But other times I have seen good things from them as well. There are many towns that remember us. They call upon our aid still, even to this day. Though it is not common.” He admitted to her.
“I would think that working with your kind would benefit all of us.” Twilight replied to him.
“That type of thinking is not common either.” He replied. “Many of mine die from attacks by ponies who are convinced that we are the reason for their suffering. Even when the Shade is gone the suffering remains and they are left with only more questions.”
Twilight grimaced. “Well at least some ponies know the truth.”
“True. It’s better than none at all.” He reasoned to her.
“Okay. Let’s get back to the Library.”
“So you can grill me further?”
“Nah. I figured I would just let you sleep.” She replied with a chuckle.
Onyx chuckled. “I appreciate your restraint.”
They both chuckled and twilight angled them to walk to the Library. Onyx remained quiet as he thought over what he had been told. He suddenly looked to the purple mare and reached out a hoof to tap her shoulder. She looked to him and he spoke. “Can you not tell Celestia about what I am?”
“Why not?” She asked.
“I prefer to keep it quiet for now. I’m not sure how she would react to me. Most nobles and others have some history of hunting my kind.”
“Oh.” The mare looked thoughtful as she thought over what he said. “Okay. I’ll stay quiet. When you’re comfortable about it then I’ll say something about it. Fair?”
“Yes. Thank you. I have been in the shadows all my life. Being in the sun is new to me.” He replied, relief in his voice.
“It’s no problem at all. It’s your choice.” She said to him, a wide smile on her muzzle.
Onyx was silent as they reached the Library and went inside, Spike greeting them when they went in. Twilight bid him good night and he huddled into the dark room that he had chosen and sat down on the bed. His mind went over what the other Shade had told him and his mind raced as he thought over the implications if he needed to move the Shades that he knew where close to towns and cities. After a few minutes he sighed and scrubbed his hooves over his face and laid back on the bed. “I can’t fix anything right now. If needed I will leave and take care of my Shades. Their safety and survival are of utmost importance.” He groaned and rolled over to huddle under the blanket and allow himself to drift to sleep.
Author's Note
This chapter might get removed. I'm on the fence with it. But we find out a few things and get a glimpse into the past. Will see if I like it...I don't know yet. LOL
